The New Faces (A Percy Jackson Story)

What Really Happened

The New Faces

Chapter 22

Payton's POV at Camp Jupiter:

I move back from the black-haired boy so that we are a few feet apart. Farther back I can see that he is most likely thirteen or fourteen; is wearing all black; and smiles like an idiot. He looks me over and asks, "So going for a ride?"

I shake my head then nod then say, "I don't know. I don't really feel like I belong here and everyone thinks I'm strange, well besides Hazel that is."

At Hazel's name his eyes light up and say, "Well, she is a smart girl, and my little sister. I guess she could be either really, some ways she is my older sister but in others she is my younger. Do you understand?"

I shake my head and he nods, "Yeah neither do I!" He then does a 'oh my bad' face and extends his hand saying, "Hi, I'm Nico Di Angelo! What's your name?"

I smile taking his hand say, "Payton Jill Geneva, nice to meet you."

When he hears my name he asks the same question as Octavian, "Are you an only child?"

I shake my head and say, "I don't think so but it's hard for me to tell I just really can't tell honestly."

He nods and says, "I think you are right, you don't belong here."

I take my hand away from his and back up a little. There was a look in his eyes that told me to be fearful of this guy.

He takes my hand and says, "Come on, I need to ask you some questions." I nod and he leads me back to camp, but not the main area with all the trainees now he leads me into a little village. As we walk in I notice a statue by the gates, as we get closer I could have sworn it moved. Then Nico stops us beside the statue and it turns to us, I would have run screaming if Nico hadn't been holding my arm.

"Nico, you know the drill no weapons." Nico nods and places a giant sword on the ground beside the statue. I try to figure out where it had come from but can't figure it out.

The statue then turns to me and says, "You too missy. Hand it over." I shake my head knowing my knife was still in the little cabin.

"I don't have any weapons, I'm sorry?"

The statue snorts and says, "You are not going past the border line until you hand over that necklace."

I look down at my elephant necklace. It is just a cheap piece of unimportant junk jewelry; it has a black plastic elephant in the middle and a red, blue, and silver bead on both sides on a black leather string. I didn't understand how it could be a weapon but just to please the stupid statue I take it off. But when I do it turns into a golden locket with a pink bird and flowers on a golden chain. I stare at it in awe for a minute and look up at the smug looking statue.

"Well, are you going to put the thing down or not?" It asks me. I look at the locket again and have this urge to rub the cover. I do and it turns into golden armor that covers me.

I look down again and say, "Uh…" Nico looks just as shocked as me but the statue seemed to be becoming smugger by the minute.

"So place the armor on the ground or you can't come into New Rome," The statue says again. I brush my hand over the front and it changes back into a locket.

I place the locket on the statue's pedestal and say, "Sorry, um what's your name?"

The statue smiles and says, "Terminus the god of boundaries"

I nod and smile, the statue smiles back and says, "Have a good day, and Nico—" The god trails off but Nico gives him a reassuring smile that says, "Its fine, we'll be fine." The god smiles and we walk on into New Rome.